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What is the nature of the obligation 'lo lahem tavodu' - not to free Canaanite slaves? The Ramban (רמב"ן) sees this as one unified halacha (הלכה) of caring for the slave's welfare, while the Rambam (רמב"ם) divides it into two separate obligations: working the slave for the master's benefit and not abandoning him for the slave's protection. This fundamental disagreement explains why freeing a chatzi eved v'chatzi ben chorin involves different halachic considerations.
This shiur presents a comprehensive analysis of the Talmudic principle of 'Lo Lahem Tavodu' (you shall work them forever) regarding Jewish ownership of Canaanite slaves. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining a question in Shabbos (שבת) 4a about whether others may be roided on Shabbos to prevent a slave owner from violating the prohibition. The Gemara (גמרא) establishes that one cannot violate even a rabbinic prohibition to save another from transgression. The core discussion centers on Tosafos (תוספות)'s citation of the principle 'kol hameshacher avdo over basei' (whoever frees his slave violates a positive commandment), referencing the case of chatzi eved v'chatzi ben chorin (half-slave, half-free person). This leads to a fundamental question: how can there be an obligation of 'lo lahem tavodu' when dealing with a partial slave?
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Shabbos 4a
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